Portsmouth grapples with wastewater upgrades

Wednesday

Apr 28, 2010 at 3:15 AMApr 28, 2010 at 5:29 AM

By GEOFF CUNNINGHAM Jr.gcunningham@fosters.com

PORTSMOUTH — Residents joined city officials in expressing frustration that the Environmental Protection Agency is ordering the City of Portsmouth to bolster its storm-water treatment capabilities without providing guidance as to what exact standards they want met.

City planners and consultants are weighing a number of options, but Deputy Public Works Director Dave Allen told a Tuesday audience that upgrades could result in the tripling of sewer bills for the average household from roughly $600 to $2,000.

As the city approaches a June deadline to submit a preliminary storm-water treatment upgrade plan to the EPA, officials in charge of the project remain without a set number on the allowed milligram per liter nitrogen levels that will be permitted in wastewater — a factor that will play a huge role in determining the cost of a project.

Lee Roberts — a local resident — said the moving target from the EPA seems unfair for those trying to choose the best option for handling wastewater being discharged into the Piscataqua River.

"They are putting us under the gun and giving us different scenarios. Then they give us deadlines ... it seems over the top," Roberts said.

Officials say potential upgrades to the wastewater system could cost anywhere from $71 million to $103 million depending on the allowable nitrogen release limits.

On Tuesday approximately 40 residents gathered at the Portsmouth Public Library for an informational session that saw city officials and consultants reviewing a situation that has the EPA pressuring the city to comply with enhanced treatment requirements.

Portsmouth operates two wastewater treatment facilities with one on Peirce Island and the other located at Pease.

Officials were forced toward a more aggressive approach to upgrading treatment facilities in 2007 when the EPA altered their permit, thus ordering further treatment of wastewater.

The city is working under a "consent decree" with the EPA that requires officials to come up with a draft plan by June for how they will upgrade to "secondary" treatment of wastewater with a final plan due in September 2010.

The decree spells out the time limits for the decision and establishes an agreed upon $500 to $1,000 a day penalties if the city fails to comply with water quality requirements, compliance milestones and reporting obligations.

Peter Goodwin of Weston and Sampson — a consulting firm working with the city on wastewater treatment — said officials are weighing options that would enhance treatment operations at either Peirce Island or Pease.

City officials told Tuesday's audience a big challenge has revolved around the EPA's failure to inform them of what exact level of treatment they are mandating.

One guideline revolves around the amount of nitrogen that is being discharged in each liter of wastewater.

Officials say some discussion has revolved around restrictions calling for an 8 milligram of nitrogen per liter standard with others seek more enhanced treatment calling for 5 milligrams or even 3 milligrams per liter.

"We've been working with a framework that is constantly changing," Goodwin said.

Nitrogen has the possibility of negatively impacting the environment as a result of algae blooms that can degrade water quality thus impacting numerous species ranging from shell fish to other marine creatures.

Allen confirmed differing treatment requirements with respect to nitrogen could result in a $20 million difference in the cost of a upgrade project.

Officials said they were blown away recently when the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services suggested they might also soon see restrictions with regards to phosphorus levels in discharged water.

Glen Normandeau, a local resident, suggested the EPA "get off the pot" and decide on the treatment requirements before they press the city to draft a treatment solution.

"I think it's time to apply some reverse pressure," Normandeau said.

City Manager John Bohenko said Portsmouth is among several Seacoast communities currently grappling with the possible financial ramifications of the EPA's treatment requirements.

He indicated city officials are committed to meeting expectations, but will be keeping a close eye on their options with regard to the affordability of upgrades required by the EPA — the entity that will have final authority on selecting the desired treatment upgrade project.

Some residents expressed concern about how the upgrades would impact their sewer bills, while others stated their opposition to any option calling for expansion of the treatment plant on Peirce Island, which sits adjacent to the historic Fort Washington.

Local resident Jack Kelly got a laugh from the audience when he suggested that further expansion of the Peirce Island facility might warrant the changing of the name of the historic landmark to "castle poo plant."